The event began with performances by a number of local artists, much to the delight of the keynote speaker. The article states that, “His excitement was noticeable as he jumped to his feet and snapped photos of the acts smiling from ear to ear.”

The article also included interviews with Augsburg students Erickson Saye ’16, Robert Harper ’16, and Reis Francisco Romero ’16. Romero was instrumental in organizing the event; he is the president of Augsburg College’s chapter of Save the Kids, a student group that co-sponsored this year’s convocation.

“It’s going to take me a while to conceptualize everything. I’m glad we did it, I’m glad it’s over, but now the real work starts,” Romero said of the event. “We have to work together to end this miserable condition on this earth.”

Read and view: on the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder site.

The post Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder recaps Augsburg College’s MLK Convocation appeared first on News and Media.

The segment featured brief statements by Chuck D, spoken word artist Sha Cage, and those who attended the event.

“People that used to close their doors and say, ‘You know what, my voice doesn’t matter,’ are coming outside and they are picking up signs,” Cage said of recent protests and activism.

Watch: Public Enemy’s Chuck D. talks racial tension at Augsburg on the KMSP site.

The post KMSP covers Augsburg College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation<br />with Chuck D appeared first on News and Media.

This year’s convocation will feature Chuck D, leader and co-founder of legendary rap group Public Enemy, author of two critically acclaimed books, and a political activist, publisher, radio host, and producer. He will give a presentation called “Race, Rap, and Reality: Supporting Our Youth in the Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as They Face the Unique Challenges of Today.”

The post Local news outlets include Augsburg College’s MLK Convocation in holiday event coverage appeared first on News and Media.

The presentation, “Searching for MLK: A provocative exploration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” will take place at 1 p.m. in Hoversten Chapel and will include thought-provoking archival images, song, movement, and written excerpts from Dr. King.

“Each year, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation offers us the opportunity to celebrate the life of Dr. King, and—more importantly—reaffirm our community’s commitment to the values associated with his legacy: social justice, peace, and non-violence,” said Mohamed Sallam, director of the Pan-Afrikan Center and Convocation committee chair.

This year, Convocation curators T. Mychael Rambo and Brian Grandison have crafted a production that seeks to empower each audience member to hold on to Dr. King’s dream and to maintain his vision for a beloved community.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation is as pertinent today as it was at its founding a quarter century ago, according to Sallam. “The Convocation is exceedingly important as our community is presented with new challenges,” he said. “The planning committee works to address these issues by utilizing different thematic approaches to the event that are relevant on campus and across the Twin Cities.”

As with all Augsburg College convocation programs, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation is free and open to the public. The Convocation historically has attracted a sizeable audience due to its community partners.

Rambo hosted and curated the 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation, and he partnered with Grandison for the 2013 event in order to call on his expertise as an actor, director, and writer who has taught classes and led performing arts workshops at universities across the United States. Both men have performed at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and at numerous other venues in the Twin Cities.

Convocation Hashtags

Share your convocation experience using social media. The hashtag for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation is #MLKConvocation.

The post MLK Convocation celebrates silver anniversary appeared first on News and Media.

Set against a backdrop of his most memorable speeches, quotations, and historical events from the Civil Rights era, this celebration pays tribute to the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. through performances from renowned Twin Cities artists and talented members of the Augsburg College community. As part of this event, students from the Southside Family School will also share an excerpt from their world premiere production, “Keeping the Dream Alive.” Hosted and curated by T. Mychael Rambo, this stirring performance will give voice to “the dream” and refresh our resolve to boldly proclaim, that indeed “Now is the time!”

An affiliate professor and recruitment coordinator for the College of Liberal Arts, Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Minnesota, T. Mychael Rambo is best know as a member of Penumbra Theatre Company. He has performed in several Guthrie main stage productions and other Twin Cities theatre venues. The convocation will be held Monday, January 16 at 1 p.m. in the Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center.

Photo courtesy of tmychaelrambo.com.

The post MLK Convocation features T. Mychael Rambo appeared first on News and Media.

Michael Thelwell was born in Ulster Spring, Jamaica in 1939. After graduating from Jamaica College, he went to work as a public relations assistant for the Jamaica Industrial Development Corporation in 1958. He moved to the United States in 1959 and received a B.A. from Howard University and an M.F.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Thelwell has worked as director for the Students Non-violent Coordinating Committee in Washington D.C., where he also worked for the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (1964-65). He has been a professor in the African-American Studies department at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst since 1969. He is the author of two screenplays, several articles and a novel, “The Harder They Come.”

The Convocation is free and open to the public. For more information, call 612-330-1180.

UPDATE: The MLK committee will hold three discussions continuing the theme from the convocation. Martin Luther King Jr.’s book, “The Trumpet of Conscience” (1967), will be the basis for the discussions. The book chapters will be available via library reserve.

Monday, Jan. 28

Chapter 2: Consciousness and the Vietnam War

Facilitator: Veterans for Peace

Monday, Feb. 4

Chapter 1: Impasse in Race Relations

Facilitators: Dr. Jeff Kolnick

Monday, Feb. 11

Chapter 3: Youth and Social Action

Facilitator: Students protesting the School of the Americas

All meetings will take place in the Minneapolis Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunches, while beverages and dessert will be provided.

The post Ekwueme Michael Thelwell to speak at the Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation Jan. 21, 2008 appeared first on News and Media.